Genealogy: an Auxiliary Science of History in Cyberspace

Abstract

Genealogy, as an auxiliary science of history, has been present in cyberspace for some time now, surpassing other auxiliary historical sciences in terms of online visibility. This distinction is evident even when comparing the number of views on webpages resulting from searches, indicating the popularity of genealogical research. This is a consequence of the popularity of genealogical research, which is predominantly conducted not by scholars but by enthusiasts and amateur genealogists. They independently seek to delve into the history of their families, thereby creating familial genealogical compendia. This research orientation is reflected in various guides recently released in the Polish publishing market, offering readers discussions on both traditional tools employed in genealogical studies and modern techniques associated with technological advancements and the digital presentation of information. Consequently, almost every publication of this nature includes a chapter dedicated to the characterization of online services and databases, providing invaluable assistance in genealogical research. Similarly, various profiles and groups in social media, previously unnoticed by both scholars and popularizers, play a significant role in this domain. Hence, this article aims to provide a synthetic overview of genealogy’s presence in cyberspace, encompassing both macro-level entities (major online services and databases) and microlevel elements (small groups in social media). The article’s objective is to portray genealogy as an auxiliary science of history that has not only found its place in the digital space but has also established itself and continues to evolve.